Locals must have an important say in Kashmir issue: Majeed Memon

Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Member of Parliament Majeed Memon said here on Monday that people in Jammu and Kashmir will and should have an important say on the issue of Kashmir and on the future of the India-Pakistan relationship.

Memon told ANI, "A mere invitation to the Hurriyat leaders, one does not know what would be the agenda or the nature of talks, it is preparative to talk to the people, as they feel this would be instrumental in their own interests."

"But as far as the India-Pakistan relationship and the Kashmir issue is concerned, definitely the Indian Government will have its emphatic say on that, and a more important say would also be that of the local people of Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit is meeting Kashmiri separatist leaders on Tuesday, ahead of the August 25 meeting between the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries.